McKinner's Pizza Bar

Last night we decided we wanted to revisit a place we hadn't been in about 2 years. It's a little pizza bar in Downtown Littleton called McKinner's. As you walk in, the kitchen is immediately to your left, in the window so that it can be viewed from the street, and on your right is a mini-stage area where they host small musical acts and open mic nights. Along one wall is a full bar with a quality selection of local beers (My husband who is the beer connoisseur had a hard time choosing). A row of high top tables divide the bar from a row of cozy booths along the wall. While it could be the perfect place to watch the game on the large TVs at the bar, it is also the perfect place for a casual yet romantic date. The soft glow of the dimmed lights along with the flickering candles dispersed amiss the restaurant create a warm and relaxing ambiance.

My mouth watered as I looked at the menu with pizza ranging from the traditional to more modern twists such as a buffalo (Buffza), a barbeque chicken, and a chicken club (Clubza) pizza. But my heart was set on one thing -- the special I had tried the last time I was there -- the Spicy Cheddaroni. Unfortunately, it was not on the menu, but with a smile, they were more than obliged to make it for me. The pizza came out piping hot, and I dug in.


The traditional crust, while not hyped up with any special seasonings or bastes, was absolutely delicious. It was cracker-like crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. The sauce on the Spicy Cheddaroni is a buffalo wing style sauce both spicy and a bit sweet. The pizza was loaded with large pepperoni slices that covered every inch of the pizza leaving just enough room on the edges for some crust to hold onto. However, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses camouflage the fact that there is any pepperoni on the pizza to begin with. The cheddar is smoky and sharp creating the perfect balance with the sweet and spicy sauce, and the classic mozzarella finishes with the perfect creamy pizza-cheese that we all love. The only possible flaw to find with this pizza is that all the cheese and pepperoni create alot of grease. However, everything in moderation right?

While we had been looking at the menu, we had notice a dessert called Tubbies Nummies. And come on, with a name like that, we just had to order it. It was banana bread that had been cut into strips and stacked up just like Lincoln Logs. The stack was drizzled with a cream sauce and topped with toasted coconut, while two mandarin oranges added some color on the side. It was not dense or overly-sweet like most dessert. However, being the sweet tooth I am, I thought it was more savory and not sweet enough. The bread was very moist and full of banana flavor, and the toasted coconut (even though I don't usually like coconut) added a wonderful crunch and an almost roasted-marshmallow essence to the dessert. The cream sauce was mildly sweet but most lacking in flavor. Overall though, they were nummy in my tummy, but not something I would crave.

Along with our dessert, we ordered, by recommendation from the waitress, a Colorado Bulldog -- a variation of a White Russian. It is Vodka, Kalhua, cream, and a splash of Coke. It was the perfect addition to our dessert with a slight resemblance to a root beer float. It is by far one of the best drinks a bartender has concocted for me and will be on my frequently-ordered list for sure.

Really the only downside to our visit to McKinner's (despite my urge to want to add a sprinkle of sugar on top the Nummies) was the wait; however, on the top of their menu, they do forewarn you that since every pizza is made to order it may take up to 35 minutes. But I don't care if I have to wait. I will definitely be heading back to McKinner's very soon for what I have to consider "The Best Pizza in Town" (so far at least :)).

Overall rating…
Spicy Cheddaroni – 10/10
Tubbies Nummies – 6/10
Colorado Bulldog – 9/10

McKinner’s – 5 sizzling skillets

For the full menu visit http://www.mckinners.com/menus/McKinners%20Dinner%20Menu%207%202009.pdf.